Kilistina Mota'ane has come a long way in a very short time.
The 17-year-old Kavanagh College pupil has just been named in the Black Ferns training squad, one of two schoolgirls from Dunedin included.
Otago Girls' High School pupil Georgia Mason is the other school pupil from Otago picked in the side.
Mota'ane is effectively new to rugby - last year was her first season in the game since a brief runaround at primary school.
''At first I didn't want to play. I only did it because my dad wanted me to,'' she said.
''My dad was passionate about it but, you know, I wanted to be a girl. Do girls' things. Rugby was my biggest fear, really. I sort of feared I would end up being too muscly. All those stereotypes I suppose.
''But I did it and I liked it and now I've done this.''
The second-youngest of six boys and three girls in her family, she grew up with the game, as her brothers all played.
She was encouraged to play last year by Black Ferns five-eighth Victoria Subritzky-Nafatali, a family friend, and was part of the champion Pirates side, playing in the midfield.
She played at second five-eighth for Otago in the national provincial competition, and fitted in easily at the next level.
Mota'ane conceded getting picked for the national training squad was a bolt out of the blue.
''I was really surprised. Like, it was totally unexpected. Now, I've got to start working hard and doing all the fitness.''
That involves two fitness sessions a week, dedicated gym sessions and the dreaded yo-yo tests.
Mason (17) attended Southland Girls' High School for four years but has moved north for her final year of schooling.
She hails originally from a farm in the Catlins and came to Dunedin to fit in with a gruelling training campaign.
''Last year, I only went to school for three days. Missed Thursday and Friday much to the thrill of my teachers,'' Mason said.
''I did it so I could go to club training. Now, they have switched club trainings to Mondays and Wednesdays so I needed to be up here.
''But I've been playing since I was 4. It's something you just do in the country. I've always loved it.''
Mason, an openside flanker, was the first female picked in the Southland rugby academy and plays for the University club in Dunedin.
''This will be my fourth year with the University club and I still haven't been to university. Hopefully, next year I'll be able to be a student.''
Other Otago players picked for the training squad are backs Greer Muir and Sheree Hume and loose forward Angie Sisifa, all from Pirates.
The training squad will be reduced by the middle of the year for a tour to Canada where the Black Ferns will play tests against Canada, the United States and Australia.
